Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 May 2024
51. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the main sectors of analysis his Department is applying to the present Waterford airport runway extension review; the number of similar reviews using the same analysis template that have taken place in his Department over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24242/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question in relation to the submission made by Waterford Airport for Exchequer funding to support proposed development works. I wish to advise the Deputy that this document is currently being reviewed by my Department in accordance with the requirements of a Project Outline Document (POD) as set out under my Department’s Transport Appraisal Framework and the Infrastructure Guidelines.
In accordance with this Framework, where a proposal seeking Exchequer funding has an estimated potential cost of €15 million or more, the Sponsoring Agency must produce a POD, to be reviewed by the Approving Authority (in this case, my Department). The purpose of the POD is to summarise the proposed scheme, assess alignment with national and local policies, outline the range of options to be considered to address the issue, identify the potential range of costs and assess the proposal's affordability, propose an appraisal plan and outline the governance plan for the project.
The POD was introduced as part of the TAF in 2023. The POD requirements ensure investment schemes in the transport sector can comply with the Infrastructure Guidelines while allowing for early assessment of proposals.
Since the publication of the TAF in June 2023, the Department has been involved in the review of approximately 5 PODs. Since June 2020, the Department has also been involved in the review of approximately 35 Strategic Assessment Reports (SARs) – the SAR being a precursor to the POD under the Public Spending Code. This gives a total of approximately 40 early-stage review documents.
Further detail on both the TAF and POD are available as follows:
Transport Appraisal Framework:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9038-transport-appraisal-framework-taf/#:~:text=The%20Transport%20Appraisal%20Framework%20%28TAF%29%20provides%20appraisal%20and,in%20accordance%20with%20the%20Public%20Spending%20Code%20%28PSC%29
Project Outline Document:
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/260302/cf0dcac3-ac50-42fc-8a05-309ea9bf3728.pdf#page=null.
